One-piece tank ball



April 23, 1963 s. B. GROSS 3,086,218

ONE-PIECE] TANK BALL Filed Aug. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR J'fm/e 5 Grass ATTORNEY April 23, 1963 s. B. GROSS 3,086,218

ONE-PIECE TANK BALL Filed Aug. 16, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 511m. B. Gaoss United States Patent 3,086,218 ONE-PIECE TANK BALL Stanley B. Gross, Presidential Apartments, City Line Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Aug. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 131,827

' 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-56) My invention relates to tank balls and more particularly to the type of tank ball molded entirely as one and designed for proper seating under all operating conditions.

Experience has shown that numerous designs and improvements have been made throughout the years in *at tempting to overcome the trouble and annoyance of dripping and leaking inherent in the operation of the conventional flush tank. These designs incorporate among others means to prevent collapse of the tank ball, to prevent the deterioration of the rubber body, to provide double and triple seal for positive closure and to provide multiple piece tank balls incorporating guides for effective closure. Despite all previous work in this field, there still is room for a design incorporating new features to assure a truly trouble-free device.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a tank ball molded in one piece incorporating a directional guide.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device to assure proper seating upon operation.

It is another object of this invention to incorporate a design to provide means to assure an upright float position of the device.

It is another object of this invention to incorporate universal connector means to insure positive seating.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device that can be readily used with conventional existing equipment.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device that is inexpensive in manufacture, rugged in construction and trouble-free in operation.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claim, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the tank ball.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the tank ball.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 of the tank ball when resting loosely on the valve seat.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the tank ball partly broken away at the connector.

FIGURE 5 is a detail in cross section of the connector.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation of an alternate construction.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

In FIGURE 4, I show a generally hollow, circular tank ball having an inclined seating surface 10 terminating in a guide member 12 at bottom 11 through adaptor piece 13. The top 14 of seating surface 10 extends through inclined cover piece 15 and terminates in a universal connector assembly 16 providing a conventional threaded connector 17.

The inclined seating surface 10 is round in shape to conform to round valve seat 18 and varies in diameter from its smallest dimension 19 at bottom 11 to its largest dimension 20 at top 14 of seating surface 10. I have found that by inclining the seating surface as shown and described, my tank ball will have most universal use with new and existing equipment inasmuch as all variously 3,086,218 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 "ice to provide a seal 21. As the size of the valve seat 18 in-.

creases, the nearer the top 14 of inclined surface 10 will come in contact to form a seal 21. I prefer to construct my tank ball of hollow molded rubber of dimensions suitable for use with all known valve seats as above described. As can be readily seen, the dimensions of the inclined surface can be readily changed to accommodate all known equipment.

Immediately below bottom 11 of inclined surface 10, I show a guide member 12 extending downward and connected through adaptor piece 13. Guide member 12 is shown cylindrical 22 in shape and is smaller in diameter 23 than smallest dimension 19 of inclined surface 10. The diameter 23 of guide member 12 is made smaller than any known valve seat so that guide member may readily fit within the valve seat 18 to guide and direct the seating surface 10 into proper sealing alignment to form a perfect seal 21 at all times. The guide member is preferably cylindrical 22 in shape, but any other shape may be used and still be within the scope of this invention so long as the guide member can fit entirely Within the valve seat 18 and act as a guide to the remainder of the tank ball. As an alternate method of construction,

in FIGURE 6, I show a tank ball with guide member 12 inch in diameter and extends entirely through wall 28 of guide member 12 and communicates with hollow interior 29. I have found that a single hole 27 functions to maintain the tank ball in upright position 30 as shown in FIGURE 1 even when fully immersed in water, thereby further insuring proper operation.

In FIGURE 5, I show a preferred embodiment of the universal connector assembly 16 as provided in the inclined cover piece 15 of the tank ball. A brass insert 31 held in heavy rubber bonnet 32 forming top 33 of cover piece 15 is provided with extended mounting ears or flanges 34 and internal threads 35. Said threads are standard 6-32 threads, approximately /4 inch deep to conform to existing practice in the field. A short brass connecting rod having conforming external threads 37 at one end, a short shank portion 38 and ball joint 39 at other end is screwed into insert 31 and forms a universal joint attachment for operating member 40. Brass operating member 40 is provided at one end 42 with a socket 41 which corresponds with ball joint 39 to form a universal joint capable of turning universally in all directions about connecting rod 36. The opposite end 43 of operating member 40 is drilled and tapped with a standard 6-32 thread 44 approximately inch deep to operate with conventional equipment (not shown).

Brass insert 31 is recessed a sufficient distance 45 below top of inclined cover 33 to permit mounting of connecting rod 36 and operating member 40- below top of inclined cover 33 when in operating position as shown. Recessed opening 46 is arranged with inclined sides 47 to provide sufficient clearance 48 for proper operation of universal connector assembly 16 in all directions.

In operation, the tank ball is connected to the flushing mechanism in the usual manner at internal threads 44 of operating member 40. Upon flushing, the tank ball is lowered in the usual manner so that inclined seating surface engages valve seat 18 in complete sealing engagement. The shape of inclined seating surface 10, the guide member 12, the hole 27 in guide member and universal connector assembly 16 operating either in combination or individually assure proper Seating at the valve seat 18 at each operation. I have found the corrective features built into the tank ball as part of my invention produce proper, leak-free operation at all times.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

In a one piece tank ball used for sealing a round valve seat, the combination of a body portion having an inclined, circular seating surface, a circular guide member extending below and connecting to bottom of said body portion, said guide member and body portion being concentric and a universal connector assembly inserted into top of and being concentric with said body portion; said body portion being of hollow construction with closed top of relatively thick material, said inclined sides having bottom and top diameters increasing from bottom to top, said bottom diameter being smaller than diameter of valve seat and said top diameter being greater than diameter of valve seat and said bottom of body portion being open and communicating with said guide member; said guide member being of hollow, cylindrical construction and having diameter equal to said bottom diameter of body portion, said guide member provided with a horizontal hole extending completely through cylindrical construction and communicating with said hollow interior, said hole being less in diameter than diameter of guide member, said guide member arranged to fit within said valve seat upon operation and said guide member extending from and formed in one piece with said body member; said universal connector assembly comprising an inverted conical depression in said closed top of body member, said depression being less than thickness of material of said top and having circular width at top of diameter approximately equal to diameter of said guide member, a flanged insert molded into said top of body portion at base of said depression, said insert provided with an upwardly extending cylindrical hole and internal threads along said hole, said hole having lower terminus in said insert and upper terminus open and in communication with said depression, a vertical short connecting rod removeably attached to said insert having upper and lower ends, the lower of said ends provided with external threads and turned into said insert to form a threaded attachment and the upper of said ends terminating in a ball of diameter greater than said connecting rod, a vertical cylindrical operating member attached to top of said connecting rod having upper and lower ends, said lower end provided with a spherical socket of dimensions corresponding to said ball and said upper end provided with a vertical, upwardly extending, cylindrical hole and internal threads along said hole, said hole having a lower terminus insaid operating member and said upper terminus open providing place of attachment for said tank ball, said socket fitting over an enveloping said ball whereby universal ball joint swivel action is provided and operating member is free to incline within confines of said conical depression.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 895,741 Freshour Aug. 11, 1908 895,742 Freshour Aug. 11, 1908 2,436,035 Cheiten Feb. 17, 1948 2,579,012 Rekar Dec. 18, 1951 2,639,438 Hertzberg May 26, 1953 2,693,600 Kass Nov. 9, 1954 2,820,968 Fightmaster Jan. 28, 1958 

